第42章

CHAPTERII

TheAbbydelaVille——TheAbbyGaliani——TheNeapolitanDialect——ISetOutforDunkirkonaSecretMissionISucceed——IReturntoParisbyAmiens——MyAdventurebytheWay——M。delaBretonniere——MyReportGivesSatisfaction——IAmPaidFiveHundredLouis——Reflections。

Anewcareerwasopeningbeforeme。Fortunewasstillmyfriend，andIhadallthenecessaryqualitiestosecondtheeffortsoftheblindgoddessonmybehalfsaveone——perseverance。Myimmoderatelifeofpleasureannulledtheeffectofallmyotherqualities。

M。deBernisreceivedmeinhisusualmanner，thatismorelikeafriendthanaminister。HeaskedmeifIhadanyinclinationforasecretmission。

"HaveIthenecessarytalents？"

"Ithinkso。"

"Ihaveaninclinationforallhonestmeansofearningalivelihood，andasformytalentsIwilltakeyourexcellency’sopinionforgranted。"

Thislastobservationmadehimsmile，asIhadintended。

Afterafewwordsspokenatrandomonthememoriesofbygoneyearswhichtimehadnotentirelydefaced，theministertoldmetogototheAbbedelaVilleandusehisname。

Thisabbe，thechiefpermanentofficialoftheforeignoffice，wasamanofcoldtemperament，aprofounddiplomatist，andthesoulofthedepartment，andhighinfavourwithhisexcellencytheminister。HehadservedthestatewellasanagentatTheHague，andhisgratefulkingrewardedhimbygivinghimabishopriconthedayofhisdeath。

Itwasalittlelate，butkingshavenotalwayssufficientleisuretorememberthings。HisheirwasawealthymannamedGamier，whohadformerlybeenchiefcookatM。d’Argenson’s，andhadbecomerichbyprofitingbythefriendshiptheAbbedelaVillehadalwayshadforhim。Thesetwofriends，whowerenearlyofthesameage，haddepositedtheirwillsinthehandsofthesameattorney，andeachhadmadetheotherhisresiduarylegatee。

Aftertheabbehaddeliveredabriefdiscourseonthenatureofsecretmissionsandthediscretionnecessarytothosechargedwiththem，hetoldmethathewouldletmeknowwhenanythingsuitableformepresenteditself。

ImadetheacquaintanceoftheAbbeGaliani，thesecretaryoftheNeapolitanEmbassy。HewasabrothertotheMarquisdeGaliani，ofwhomIshallspeakwhenwecometomyItaliantravels。TheAbbeGalianiwasamanofwit。Hehadaknackofmakingthemostserioussubjectsappearcomic；andbeingagoodtalker，speakingFrenchwiththeineradicableNeapolitanaccent，hewasafavouriteineverycirclehecaredtoenter。TheAbbedelaVilletoldhimthatVoltairehadcomplainedthathisHenriadehadbeentranslatedintoNeapolitanverseinsuchsortthatitexcitedlaughter。

"Voltaireiswrong，"saidGaliani，"fortheNeapolitandialectisofsuchanaturethatitisimpossibletowriteversesinitthatarenotlaughable。Andwhyshouldhebevexed；hewhomakespeoplelaughissureofbeingbeloved。TheNeapolitandialectistrulyasingularone；wehaveitintranslationsoftheBibleandoftheIliad，andbotharecomic。"

"IcanimaginethattheBiblewouldbe，butIshouldnothavethoughtthatwouldhavebeenthecasewiththeIliad。"

"Itis，nevertheless。"

IdidnotreturntoParistillthedaybeforethedepartureofMdlle。

delaMeure，nowMadameP————。Ifeltindutyboundtogoandseeher，togivehermycongratulations，andtowishherapleasantjourney。Ifoundheringoodspiritsandquiteatherease，and，farfrombeingvexedatthis，Iwaspleased，acertainsignthatIwascured。Wetalkedwithouttheslightestconstraint，andIthoughtherhusbandaperfectgentleman。HeinvitedustovisithimatDunkirk，andIpromisedtogowithoutintendingtodoso，butthefateswilledotherwise。

Tirettawasnowleftalonewithhisdarling，whogrewmoreinfatuatedwithherStrephoneveryday，sowelldidheprovehisloveforher。

Withamindatease，InowsetmyselftosentimentalizewithMdlle。

Baletti，whogavemeeverydaysomenewmarkoftheprogressIwasmaking。

ThefriendshipandrespectIboreherfamilymadetheideaofseductionoutofthequestion，butasIgrewmoreandmoreinlovewithher，andhadnothoughtsofmarriage，IshouldhavebeenpuzzledtosayatwhatendIwasaiming，soIletmyselfglidealongthestreamwithoutthinkingwhereIwasgoing。

InthebeginningofMaytheAbbedeBernistoldmetocomeandcallonhimatVersailles，butfirsttoseetheAbbedelaVille。ThefirstquestiontheabbeaskedmewaswhetherIthoughtmyselfcapableofpayingavisittoeightortenmen—of—warintheroadsatDunkirk，ofmakingtheacquaintanceoftheofficers，andofcompletingaminuteandcircumstantialreportonthevictualling，thenumberofseamen，theguns，ammunition，discipline，etc。，etc。

"Iwillmaketheattempt，"Isaid，"andwillhandyouinmyreportonmyreturn，anditwillbeforyoutosayifIhavesucceededornot。"

"Asthisisasecretmission，Icannotgiveyoualetterofcommendation；Icanonlygiveyousomemoneyandwishyouapleasantjourney。"

"Idonotwishtobepaidinadvance——onmyreturnyoucangivemewhatyouthinkfit。Ishallwantthreeorfourdaysbeforesettingout，asImustprocuresomelettersofintroduction。"

"Verygood。Trytocomebackbeforetheendofthemonth。Ihavenofurtherinstructionstogiveyou。"

OnthesamedayIhadsomeconversationatthePalaisBourbonwithmypatron，whocouldnotadmiresufficientlymydelicacyinrefusingpaymentinadvance；andtakingadvantageofmyhavingdonesohemademeacceptapacketofahundredLouis。ThiswasthelastoccasiononwhichImadeuseofhispurse；IdidnotborrowfromhimatRomefourteenyearsafterwards。

"Asyouareonasecretmission，mydearCasanova，Icannotgiveyouapassport。Iamsorryforit，butifIdidsoyourobjectwouldbesuspected。However，youwilleasilybeabletogetonefromthefirstgentlemanofthechamber，onsomepretextorother。Silviawillbemoreusefultoyouinthatwaythananybodyelse。Youquiteunderstandhowdiscreetyourbehaviourmustbe。Aboveall，donotgetintoanytrouble；forIsupposeyouknowthat，ifanythinghappenedtoyou，itwouldbeofnousetotalkofyourmission。Weshouldbeobligedtoknownothingaboutyou，forambassadorsaretheonlyavowedspies。Rememberthatyoumustbeevenmorecarefulandreservedthanthey，andyet，ifyouwishtosucceed，allthismustbeconcealed，andyoumusthaveanairoffreedomfromconstraintthatyoumayinspireconfidence。If，onyourreturn，youliketoshewmeyourreportbeforehandingitin，Iwilltellyouwhatmayrequiretobeleftoutoradded。"

Fullofthisaffair，theimportanceofwhichIexaggeratedinproportiontomyinexperience，ItoldSilviathatIwantedtoaccompanysomeEnglishfriendsasfarasCalais，andthatshewouldobligemebygettingmeapassportfromtheDucdeGesvres。Alwaysreadytoobligeme，shesatdowndirectlyandwrotethedukealetter，tellingmetodeliveritmyselfsincemypersonaldescriptionwasnecessary。ThesepassportscarrylegalweightintheIsledeFranceonly，buttheyprocureonerespectinallthenorthernpartsofthekingdom。

FortifiedwithSilvia’sletter，andaccompaniedbyherhusband，I

wenttothedukewhowasathisestateatSt。Toro，andhehadscarcelyreadtheletterthroughbeforehegavemethepassport。

SatisfiedonthispointIwenttoVillette，andaskedMadameifshehadanythingIcouldtaketoherniece。"Youcantakehertheboxofchinastatuettes，"saidshe，"ifM。Cornemanhasnotsentthemalready。"Icalledonthebankerwhogavemethebox，andinreturnforahundredLouisaletterofcreditonaDunkirkhouse。Ibeggedhimtonamemeintheletterinaspecialmanner，asIwasgoingforthesakeofpleasure。Heseemedgladtoobligeme，andIstartedthesameevening，andthreedayslaterIwasatthe"HoteldelaConciergerie，"inDunkirk。

AnhouraftermyarrivalIgavethecharmingMadameP————anagreeablesurprisebyhandingherthebox，andgivingherheraunt’smessages。Justasshewaspraisingherhusband，andtellingmehowhappyshewas，hecamein，sayinghewasdelightedtoseemeandaskedmetostayinhishouse，withoutenquiringwhethermystayinDunkirkwouldbealongorshortone。Iofcoursethankedhim，andafterpromisingtodinenowandagainathishouseIbeggedhimtotakemetothebankeronwhomIhadaletter。

Thebankerreadmyletter，andgavemethehundredlouis，andaskedmetowaitforhimatmyinnwherehewouldcomeformewiththegovernor，aM。deBarail。Thisgentlemanwho，likemostFrenchmen，wasverypolite，aftermakingsomeordinaryenquiries，askedmetosupwithhimandhiswifewhowasstillattheplay。TheladygavemeaskindareceptionasIhadreceivedfromherhusband。Afterwehadpartakenofanexcellentsupperseveralpersonsarrived，andplaycommencedinwhichIdidnotjoin，asIwishedtostudythesocietyoftheplace，andaboveallcertainofficersofbothserviceswhowerepresent。Bymeansofspeakingwithanairofauthorityaboutnavalmatters，andbysayingthatIhadservedinthenavyoftheVenetianRepublic，inthreedaysInotonlyknewbutwasintimatewithallthecaptainsoftheDunkirkfleet。Italkedatrandomaboutnavalarchitecture，ontheVenetiansystemofmanoeuvres，andI

noticedthatthejollysailorswerebetterpleasedatmyblundersthanatmysensibleremarks。

FourdaysafterIhadbeenatDunkirk，oneofthecaptainsaskedmetodinneronhisship，andafterthatalltheothersdidthesame；

andoneveryoccasionIstayedintheshipfortherestoftheday。

Iwascuriousabouteverything——andJackissotrustful！Iwentintothehold，Iaskedquestionsinnumerable，andIfoundplentyofyoungofficersdelightedtoshewtheirownimportance，whogossippedwithoutneedinganyencouragementfromme。Itookcare，however，tolearneverythingwhichwouldbeofservicetome，andintheeveningsIputdownonpaperallthementalnotesIhadmadeduringtheday。

FourorfivehourswasallIallowedmyselfforsleep，andinfifteendaysIhadlearntenough。

Pleasure，gaming，andidleness——myusualcompanions——hadnopartinthisexpedition，andIdevotedallmyenergiestotheobjectofmymission。Idinedoncewiththebanker，oncewithMadameP————，inthetown，andonceinaprettycountryhousewhichherhusbandhad，ataboutaleague’sdistancefromDunkirk。Shetookmethereherself，andonfindingmyselfalonewiththewomanIhadlovedsowellIdelightedherbythedelicacyofmybehaviour，whichwasmarkedonlybyrespectandfriendship。AsIstillthoughthercharming，andasourconnectionhadonlyendedsixweeksago，Iwasastonishedtoseemyselfsoquiet，knowingmydispositiontoowelltoattributemyrestrainttovirtue。What，then，wasthereason？AnItalianproverb，speakingfornature，givesthetruesolutionoftheriddle。

’LaMonanonvuolpensieri’，andmyheadwasfullofthought。

Mytaskwasdone，andbiddinggood—byetoallmyfriends，Isetoutinmypost—chaiseforParis，goingbyanotherwayforthesakeofthechange。Aboutmidnight，onmyaskingforhorsesatsomestage，thenameofwhichIforget，theytoldmethatthenextstagewasthefortifiedtownofAire，whichweshouldnotbeallowedtopassthroughatmidnight。

"Getmethehorses，"saidI，"Iwillmakethemopenthegates。"

Iwasobeyed，andinduetimewereachedthegates。

Thepostillioncrackedhiswhipandthesentrycalledout，"Whogoesthere？"

"Expressmessenger。"

Aftermakingmewaitforanhourthegatewasopened，andIwastoldthatImustgoandspeaktothegovernor。Ididso，frettingandfumingonmywayasifIweresomegreatperson，andIwastakentoaroomwhereamaninanelegantnightcapwaslyingbesideaveryprettywoman。

"Whosemessengerareyou？"

"Nobody’s，butasIaminahurry。"

"Thatwilldo。Wewilltalkthematterovertomorrow。Inthemeanwhileyouwillacceptthehospitalityoftheguard—room。"

"But，sir……"

"Butmenobuts，ifyouplease；leavetheroom。"

Iwastakentotheguard—roomwhereIspentthenightseatedontheground。Thedaylightappeared。Ishouted，swore，madealltheracketIcould，saidIwantedtogoon，butnobodytookanynoticeofme。

Teno’clockstruck。MoreimpatientthanIcansay，Iraisedmyvoiceandspoketotheofficer，tellinghimthatthegovernormightassassinatemeifheliked，buthadnorighttodenymepenandpaper，ortodeprivemeofthepowerofsendingamessengertoParis。

"Yourname，sir？"

"Hereismypassport。"

Hetoldmethathewouldtakeittothegovernor，butIsnatcheditawayfromhim。

"Wouldyouliketoseethegovernor？"

"Yes，Ishould。"

Westartedforthegovernor’sapartments。Theofficerwasthefirsttoenter，andintwominutescameoutagainandbroughtmein。I

gaveupmypassportinproudsilence。Thegovernorreaditthrough，examiningmeallthewhiletoseeifIwasthepersondescribed；hethengaveitmeback，tellingmethatIwasfreetogowhereIliked。

"Notsofast，sir，Iamnotinsuchahurrynow。IshallsendamessengertoParisandwaithisreturn；forbystoppingmeonmyjourneyyouhaveviolatedalltherightsofthesubject。"

"Youviolatedthemyourselfincallingyourselfamessenger。"

"Notatall；ItoldyouthatIwasnotone。"

"Yes，butyoutoldyourpostillionthatyouwere，andthatcomestothesamething。"

"Thepostillionisaliar，Itoldhimnothingofthekind。"

"Whydidn’tyoushewyourpassport？"

"Whydidn’tyougivemetimetodoso？Inthecourseofthenextfewdaysweshallseewhoisright。"

"Justasyouplease。"

Iwentoutwiththeofficerwhotookmetotheposting—place，andaminuteafterwardsmycarriagedrewup。Theposting—placewasalsoaninn，andItoldthelandlordtohaveaspecialmessengerreadytocarryoutmyorders，togivemeagoodroomandagoodbed，andtoservemesomerichsoupimmediately；andIwarnedhimthatIwasaccustomedtogoodfare。Ihadmyportmanteauandallmybelongingstakenintomyroom，andhavingwashedandputonmydressing—gownI

satdowntowrite，towhomIdidnotknow，forIwasquitewronginmycontention。However，Ihadbegunbyplayingthegreatman，andI

thoughtmyselfboundinhonourtosustainthepart，withoutthinkingwhetherIstoodtohavetobackoutofitorno。AllthesameIwasvexedathavingtowaitinAiretillthereturnofthemessenger，whomIwasabouttosendtothe—moon！Inthemeanwhile，nothavingclosedaneyeallnight，Ideterminedtotakearest。Iwassittinginmyshirt—sleevesandeatingthesoupwhichhadbeenservedtome，whenthegovernorcameinunaccompanied。Iwasbothsurprisedanddelightedtoseehim。

"Iamsorryforwhathashappened，sir，andaboveallthatyouthinkyouhavegoodreasonforcomplaint，inasmuchasIonlydidmyduty，forhowwasItoimaginethatyourpostillionhadcalledyouamessengeronhisownresponsibility。"

"That’sallverywell，sir，butyoursenseofdutyneednothavemadeyoudrivemefromyourroom。"

"Iwasinneedofsleep。"

"Iaminthesamepositionatthepresentmoment，butafeelingofpolitenesspreventsmefromimitatingyourexample。"

"MayIaskifyouhaveeverbeenintheservice？"

"Ihaveservedbylandandsea，andhaveleftoffwhenmostpeopleareonlybeginning。"

"Inthatcaseyouwillbeawarethatthegatesofafortifiedtownareonlyopenedbynighttotheking’smessengersortomilitarysuperiors。"

"Yes，Iknow；butsincetheywereopenedthethingwasdone，andyoumightaswellhavebeenpolite。"

"Willyounotputonyourclothes，andwalkashortdistancewithme！"

Hisinvitationpleasedmeaswellashispridehaddispleasedme。I

hadbeenthinkingofaduelasapossiblesolutionofthedifficulty，butthepresentcoursetookalltroubleoutofmyhands。Iansweredquietlyandpolitelythatthehonourofwalkingwithhimwouldbeenoughtomakemeputoffallothercalls，andIaskedhimtobeseatedwhileImadehastetodressmyself。

Idrewonmybreeches，throwingthesplendidpistolsinmypocketsontothebed，calledupthebarber，andintenminuteswasready。I

putonmysword，andwewentout。

Wewalkedsilentlyenoughalongtwoorthreestreets，passedthroughagate，upacourt，tillwegottoadoorwheremyguidestoppedshort。Heaskedmetocomein，andIfoundmyselfinafineroomfullofpeople。Ididnotthinkofgoingback，butbehavedasifI

hadbeeninmyownhouse。

"Sir—mywife，"saidthegovernor；andturningtoherwithoutpausing，"hereisM。deCasanova，whohascometodinnerwithus。"

"Iamdelightedtohearit，sir，asotherwiseIshouldhavehadnochanceofforgivingyouforwakingmeuptheothernight。"

"Ipaiddearlyformyfault，madam，butafterthepurgatoryIhadenduredIamsureyouwillallowmetobehappyinthisparadise。"

Sheansweredwithacharmingsmile，andafteraskingmetositbesidehershecontinuedwhateverconversationwaspossibleinthemidstofagameatcards。

Ifoundmyselfcompletelyoutwitted，butthethingwasdonesopleasantlythatallIcoulddowastoputagoodfaceonit——afeatwhichIfoundsufficientlyeasyfromthereliefIfeltatnolongerbeingboundtosendamessengertoIdidnotknowwhom。

Thegovernorwellsatisfiedwithhisvictory，gotallatonceintohighspirits，andbegantotalkaboutmilitarymatters，theCourt，andongeneraltopics，oftenaddressingmewiththatfriendlyeasewhichgoodFrenchsocietyknowssowellhowtoreconcilewiththerulesofpoliteness；noonecouldhaveguessedthattherehadeverbeentheslightestdifferencebetweenus。Hehadmadehimselftheheroofthepiecebythedexterousmannerinwhichhehadleduptothesituation，butIhadafairclaimtothesecondplace，forI

hadmadeanexperiencedofficerhighincommandgivemethemostflatteringkindofsatisfaction，whichborewitnesstotheesteemwithwhichIhadinspiredhim。

Thedinnerwasserved。Thesuccessofmypartdependedonthemannerinwhichitwasplayed，andmywithasseldombeenkeenerthanduringthismeal。Thewholeconversationwasinapleasantvein，andItookgreatcaretogivethegovernor’swifeopportunitiesforshininginit。Shewasacharmingandprettywoman，stillquiteyouthful，forshewasatleastthirtyyearsyoungerthanthegovernor。Nothingwassaidaboutmysixhours’stayintheguard—room，butatdessertthegovernorescapedspeakingplainlybyajokethatwasnotworththetroubleofmaking。

"You’reaniceman，"saidhe，"tothinkIwasgoingtofightyou。

Ah！ha！Ihavecaughtyou，haven’tI？"

"WhotoldyouthatIwasmeditatingaduel？"

"Confessthatsuchwasthecase？"

"Iprotest；thereisagreatdifferencebetweenbelievingandsupposing；theoneispositive，theothermerelyhypothetical。I

mustconfess，however，thatyourinvitationtotakeawalkrousedmycuriosityastowhatwastocomenext，andIadmireyourwit。ButyoumustbelievemethatIdonotregardmyselfascaughtinatrap——

farfromthat，IamsowellpleasedthatIfeelgratefultoyou。"

Intheafternoonwealltookawalk，andIgavemyarmtothecharmingmistressofthehouse。IntheeveningItookmyleave，andsetoutearlythenextdayhavingmadeafaircopyofmyreport。

Atfiveo’clockinthemorningIwasfastasleepinmycarriage，whenIwassuddenlyawakened。WewereatthegateofAmiens。Thefellowatthedoorwasanexciseman——araceeverywheredetestedandwithgoodcause，forbesidestheinsolenceoftheirmannersnothingmakesamanfeelmorelikeaslavethantheinquisitorialsearchtheyareaccustomedtomakethroughone’sclothesandmostsecretpossessions。

HeaskedmeifIhadanythingcontraband；andbeinginabadtemperatbeingdeprivedofmysleeptoanswersuchaquestionIrepliedwithanoaththatIhadnothingofthesort，andthathewouldhavedonebettertoletmesleep。

"Asyoutalkinthatstyle，"saidthecreature，，"wewillseewhatwecansee。"